River stage
Cooper Landing, Kenai River
- River level
- 7.93 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.30 ft
- Recent high
- 12.59 ft
- Recent low
- 7.93 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS COOA2
- 30-day change
- -1.27 ft
- Average
- 9.98 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 17.18 ft
In brief
The Kenai River at Cooper Landing, AK read 7.93 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 4.07 ft below action stage. That is 1.27 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge COOA2
At this level: Low water level -- Class II whitewater above and below Jim's Landing
Water 47 °F (8 °C) · 2 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.18 ft | 1974-09-21 |
| 2 | 16.25 ft | 1967-09-01 |
| 3 | 16.20 ft | 1995-09-23 |
| 4 | 16.01 ft | 2012-09-24 |
| 5 | 15.66 ft | 1953-06-29 |
| 6 | 15.24 ft | 1993-09-19 |
| 7 | 15.10 ft | 1969-10-14 |
| 8 | 15.10 ft | 1970-10-14 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 6.00 ft
Low water level -- Class II whitewater above and below Jim's Landing
- 9.00 ft
Medium water level -- Class II whitewater above Jim's Landing; Class II+ below Jim's Landing
- 11.00 ft
High water level -- Class II+ whitewater above Jim's Landing; Class III below Jim's Landing.
- 12.50 ft
Water starts to flow over Primrose Road on the southern end of Kenai Lake.
- 14.00 ft
Properties along the Sterling Highway miles 48-50 begin to see water in their yards. USGS gauge house adjacent to Cooper Landing bridge will begin to flood. Bottom of wooden walkway at boat ramp starts to be submerged.
- 15.00 ft
Quartz Creek Campground boat ramp submerged and water encroaches campsites that are located next to the lake. Water should start to approach foundation level of buildings along Sterling Highway miles 48-50. North Cooper Creek Campgrounds begins to flood. Water in slough at mile 54 will encroach the Sterling Highway.
- 16.50 ft
Many houses and businesses along Sterling Highway miles 48-50 will begin to flood. Water should also start to encroach houses built along Primrose Road. Quartz Creek and North Cooper Creek Campgrounds will be underwater. Water will also be over the Sterling Highway at mile 54.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kenai River flooding at Cooper Landing?
No. The Kenai River at Cooper Landing is at 7.93 ft, 4.07 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Cooper Landing?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 12 ft, minor flooding 13 ft, moderate flooding 15.5 ft and major flooding 16.5 ft.
What is the highest the Kenai River has been at Cooper Landing?
The highest crest on record is 17.18 ft, on 1974-09-21.
Is the Kenai River high or low right now at Cooper Landing?
At 7.93 ft it is higher than 0% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Cooper Landing, Kenai River?
The water temperature at Cooper Landing, Kenai River is 47 °F (8.1 °C), measured 7:00 pm by USGS, which is 2 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has held steady over the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge COOA2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 15258000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.